It's that time of year again, time for the 26th Event of the Heart -- a favorite annual party in Mendocino County. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Conference Center, with Champagne reception and wines provided by Jaxon Keys, followed by a buffet dinner catered by Ellery Clark, a live and silent auction and rounding out the evening dance tunes by The Funky Dozen.

Libby Guthrie, executive director of the Mendocino County AIDS/Viral Hepatitis Network, says that the agency is funded primarily from foundation grants and donations; the profit from this event helps to cover the operational costs of the agency and its programs. This year's theme is Expressions of Love.

Guthrie remembers, "The Event of the Heart was the first event I went to when I arrived here in Mendocino County 17 years ago, and I was happy to see there was a community that came out to dance, eat and enjoy themselves. Over the years, it has been good to see the same faces and also the new people who find out about us."

"For financial reasons, we have now blended the dance with the dinner and the $85 admission fee is inclusive for all the activities. Purchasing a table for eight to 10 guests enables you to receive a discount of $5 per person."

The proceeds from the event continue to be very important to MCAVHN. Since 2009, the staff has been reduced by more than one-third. Ten years ago, there were 12 employees and they were able to do outreach to every area of Mendocino County. Every few years their funding has diminished along with the number of employees. Today, they have three full-time positions with the possibility of two going to part time in June; they are working with a shoestring budget.

Guthrie says, "A big part of my job is piecing small grants together and we rely heavily on our board of directors and volunteers to do the day-to-day activities. Board members volunteer their time to take care of administrative functions such as payroll and accounts receivable and payable; data entry for the operating systems; and smaller fundraisers in addition to this event.

"Without the kind of dedication they have shown, all this would not be possible. We also have a legion of volunteers, 13 in all, who help in various capacities with the syringe exchange program, clerical, cleanup, reception and special events."

The agency first began as a volunteer AIDS service agency and over the past two-and-a-half decades has expanded its services to include prevention for HIV and Hepatitis C as well as addressing the needs of co-occurring disorders such as mental illness and substance use. Its care program encompasses case management for persons with HIV/AIDS and those with chronic viral hepatitis.

MCAVHN now has a case management program for those with co-occurring disorders and works in collaboration with Ukiah Valley Medical Center, the Mendocino County Health Clinic, the Ford Street Project and the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

Guthrie explains, "We also administer the only syringe exchange program for all of Mendocino County. It is important for the community to understand how this program works. When we provide syringe exchange services, we counsel participants on the proper handling of syringes and we provide them with biohazard containers for personal use. The service is based on assisting those who are actively using to reduce harm to themselves and the greater public, and these services are provided within a non-critical environment."

"By providing these services, the participants are required to receive counseling and support which potentially promotes motivation for change. Our service has been instrumental in helping hundreds of people to develop this motivation. The lack of condemnation, the development of these valuable relationships, the steady building of self-esteem and the personal awareness necessary to begin the stages of change help to improve the participants' overall quality of life."

"Regardless of what people's personal beliefs might be about this, at the very least, our service allows the individual and the public the safety we all deserve."

She continues "Half of MCAVHN's volunteers are people who found recovery at our door through trusting relationships and role models that exemplified a better way of living. These people are now in the position to give back that which they received."

"One of the women who will be speaking at the event spoke last year during a time of personal tribulation. She wants to update the community on how successful she has become since that time. She directly attributes her transformation to the collaborative work we have done with her through the CUSOC, Chronic Users System of Care."

"CUSOC is a collaboration of providers in the community dedicated to reducing emergency room visits and incarcerations. They connect people with primary health care, behavioral health, substance abuse services, housing and vocational rehabilitation -- personal systems necessary for an individual to successfully progress in life."

She says it is also important to remind the community about the reality of Hepatitis C in Mendocino County. Due to the number of Baby Boomers, Vietnam veterans and injections drug users, the county with its population of 90,000 has a projected Hepatitis C positive population of 7,500, among the top four counties in California with a higher than 85 percent in injections drug users.

Due to recreational drug use in the late '60s and early '70s and because it is so infectious, Baby Boomers have an eight times higher possibility of having contracted Hepatitis C. A single incidence of recreational drug use can be the cause.

It's time to put on your best duds and your dancing shoes and step out for a fine evening of good food, good music and good company. The Champagne reception will be accompanied by the music of Majide! Machiko and Paul; the live auction will include a trip to Puerto Vallarta, a dinner at the jail catered by Sheriff Tom Allman, a weekend at Orr Hot Springs; and the dinner menu promises tantalizing entrees of grilled rib eye with rosemary redwine demiglaze, creamy mashed potatoes with kobuchu squash and oven-roasted sweet onions or creamy polenta lasagna with roasted red peppers, crimini mushrooms, eggplant, caramelized onions and maple glazed carrots.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by calling 707-462-1932 or at the Mendocino Book Company.